c# - Parsing XML Files in .NET -

i'm trying decide on best way load in configuration settings. basically, have application several people log into, , once they've logged in, want load of settings (for example: colors, font sizes, personal records, etc.)

i thinking of using xml file because thought easy parse in .net, seems more difficult anticipated.

<programsettings>      <database file="c:\database.mdb" />     </programsettings>  <usersettings>   <user key="user1">     <layout color="red" fontsize="5" />     <data file="c:\test1.txt" />   </user>    <user key="user2">     <layout color="blue" fontsize="2" />     <data file="c:\test2.txt" />   </user>  </usersettings> 

note: reason of code not appearing, there major sections labeled "programsettings" , "usersettings." edit: whoever fixed me.

anyway, "user key" user's login name or something. then, nice able this:

string userlogin = "user1";  // returns red string color = myxmlfile["usersettings"][userlogin]["layout"]["color"];           // returns 5 string fontsize = myxmlfile["usersettings"][userlogin]["layout"]["fontsize"];    

is possible? research i've done seems indicate need loop through each value. i'd load whole file, , access element directly.

it cool if edit values like:

myxmlfile["usersettings"][userlogin]["layout"]["fontsize"] = "green"; 

i think comfortable way of dealing xml files in c# using linq xml.

using (filestream lstream = new filestream("configurationsettings.xml", filemode.open, fileaccess.read)) {      xelement lroot = xelement.load(lreader)      string userlogin = "user1";      xelement user = lroot.element("usersettings").elements("user").where(x => x.attribute("key").value == userlogin).firstordefault();       if (user != null)       {           // returns red           string color = user.element("layout").attribute("color").value;            // returns 5           string fontsize = user.element("layout").attribute("fontsize").value;       }  }